Attention all high school juniors and seniors: FIRE has extended the deadline for our Free Speech Essay Contest to January 2, 2013!

Nine high school students will win a combined $20,000 in scholarship awards, including at $10,000 grand prize for the best essay and a drawing among all entrants for four $500 prizes. Entering is easy: Watch two short FIRE videos and write an essay explaining why free speech is important on college campuses for the chance to win.

Please help us spread the word to the high school students in your life. Full contest details, the videos, and submission form can all be found atthefire.org/contest.

UPDATED FIRE Essay Contest FAQ

Who can enter the essay contest?

Current high school juniors graduating in 2014 and high school seniors graduating in 2013 who plan to attend college are eligible to submit an essay for consideration.

What is the deadline for entering?

Deadline for submissions is January 2, 2013. Winners will be announced by January 31, 2013.

What is the essay question?

Why is free speech important at our nation’s colleges and universities? Using examples from both videos, discuss how censorship of student speech is incompatible with higher education. Your essay should be 800–1,000 words.